Hidden Struggles: Exploring Institutional Microaggressions and Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Community

Microaggressions against LGBTQ+ individuals are a common experience across educational

and organizational spheres. The cis-normative culture of a society can extend to its

institutions and become a source of discrimination and harassment for LGBTQ+ individuals.

Due to policies and laws, overt forms of discrimination are limited, giving rise to subtle

forms of microaggressions. Although microaggressions are considered " harmless and

unnoticeable" ways of showing prejudice, studies have demonstrated that microaggressions

have a detrimental influence on the mental health of the LGBTQ+ community. The current study

aimed to shed light on the nature and forms of microaggressions across educational and

professional institutions and its impact on the mental health of the Indian LGBTQ+ community.

A qualitative approach with an exploratory design was employed, involving semi-structured

interviews (N=33; students, N=18; employees). Thematic analysis revealed four overarching

themes related to mental health; 1) Concealment of identity (involuntary outing, fear of social

isolation, fear of hiring/ promotion discrimination, concerns about safety, cognitive

dissonance) 2) Psychological distress (battle fatigue, negative emotions, hypervigilance,

clinical symptoms), 3) Stigma consciousness (impact on self-perception and confidence,

internalized stigma), 4) Coping strategies (problem-focused, emotion-focused, avoidance

coping). Similarities and differences were observed in the experience of microaggressions

across institutions, such as schools, universities, and workplaces. Microaggressions may cause

more harm than discrimination, mental health services provided in educational and workplace

settings should prioritize addressing these experiences. Suggestions for developing a queer-

inclusive workspace and educational policies are also discussed.